the staff of the Ridgewood blog
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ — A rare seismic event shook parts of northern New Jersey on Saturday night, August 2, when a magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck near Hasbrouck Heights, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor, which occurred around 10:22 p.m., was shallow, making the shaking more widely felt throughout the region — including New York City, Westchester, and Rockland County in upstate New York.
📍 Earthquake Epicenter and Impact
The USGS reported that the quake’s epicenter was located directly at Hasbrouck Heights, Bergen County, with a depth of 0 kilometers, signifying a shallow earthquake capable of creating significant localized vibrations.
Residents across Bergen, Essex, Morris, and Hudson counties, as well as parts of New York City, described experiencing a sudden rumble, followed by shaking. Reports also came in from Harrison, East Orange, and even Astoria in Queens.
🗣 Eyewitness Accounts and Social Media Reactions
Social media quickly lit up with firsthand reports:
“I was lying in bed and suddenly there was a rumble, a bang, and my bed shook! I thought my furnace exploded,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Felt on Staten Island. Was like a ripple shockwave. Shook my house a bit,” shared another.
Even the Empire State Building’s official account got in on the moment, tweeting humorously:
“I am fine.”
🚨 No Injuries or Damage Reported
Despite widespread reports of tremors, no injuries or structural damage have been reported. Local police departments, including in Paterson, confirmed they were monitoring the situation and urged anyone with emergencies to call 911.
🌍 Global Seismic Activity Highlighted by Russian Quake
Interestingly, Saturday night’s tremor came just one day after a massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, which was detected more than 4,700 miles away by a seismometer in Binghamton, New York.
Meteorologist Howard Mange explained how the shockwaves from the massive Russian quake were picked up across the globe in stages:
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P-waves (Primary Waves): Reached NY in about 11 minutes
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S-waves (Secondary Waves): Detected around 22 minutes later
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Surface Waves: The strongest and slowest, arrived at around 36 minutes
Dr. Alex Nikulin of Binghamton University added that seismic waves from an earthquake of this magnitude can circle the globe multiple times, although humans may not always feel them.
🧠 What Causes Earthquakes in New Jersey?
While not commonly associated with seismic activity, New Jersey sits on the Ramapo Fault, making small to moderate earthquakes possible. Saturday’s quake serves as a reminder that even seemingly stable areas can experience natural surprises.
📢 Stay Informed
Residents are encouraged to follow updates from:
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
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New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
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Local police departments
If you felt the earthquake, you can report it to the USGS “Did You Feel It?” portal to contribute to their real-time earthquake mapping.
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